Trailer coupler

Abstract

A trailer coupler may be provided with an opening and socket for a hitch ball, and a clamping bar in an internal channel for locking the coupler and hitch together. The internal channel may extend horizontally and be positioned above the opening and below the socket. The channel may include a laterally-facing aperture adjacent the second end, out of which one end of the clamping bar may extend. That end of the clamping bar may include a bracket with an open channel to fit over a flange on the coupler body. The coupler may be assembled by inserting a first end of the clamping bar through the laterally-facing aperture, and moving the first end of the clamping bar into the coupler body channel while fitting the bracket over the flange at the open channel of the clamping bar.

I claim: 
     
       1. A trailer coupler for installation at a forward end of a trailer, the coupler configured to attach to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the hitch defining a ball and a neck below the ball, the coupler comprising:
 a. a coupler body including
 i. a downwardly-facing opening configured to allow the ball to pass therethrough, 
 ii. a socket above the opening for receiving the ball, 
 iii. an internal channel extending horizontally between a first end and a second end, the internal channel being positioned above the opening and below the socket, the channel including a laterally-facing aperture adjacent the second end, 
 iv. a flange adjacent the laterally-facing aperture, and 
 v. a side wall enclosing a side of the channel; 
 
 b. a clamping bar defining a first end within the first end of the channel, a curved middle portion adjacent the opening, and a second end extending out of the laterally-facing aperture of the channel, the second end of the clamping bar including a bracket, wherein the bracket includes an open channel and the flange is received therewithin, the clamping bar movable between a locked position and an open position, the curved middle portion of the clamping bar in the locked position being positioned to partially block the opening and configured to contact the neck of the ball to hold the ball in the socket; and 
 
       a pivot joint adjacent the first end of the bar and the first end of the internal channel of the coupler body, the pivot joint coupling the clamping bar to the coupler body to allow pivotal movement of the clamping bar between the locked position and the open position, wherein the bracket and the flange cooperate to provide a range of motion for the clamping bar to move between the locked position and the open position. 
     
     
       2. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the coupler body is formed as a one-piece casting. 
     
     
       3. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the clamping bar includes a curved middle portion. 
     
     
       4. The coupler of  claim 3 , further including a pin selectively operable to hold the clamping bar in the locked position. 
     
     
       5. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the flange is provided with a curvature allowing insertion of the bracket over the flange. 
     
     
       6. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the channel includes another laterally-facing aperture adjacent the first end of the channel. 
     
     
       7. The coupler of  claim 1  further comprising a spring biasing the clamping bar toward the locked position. 
     
     
       8. The coupler of  claim 7  wherein the coupler body further includes a hole through the side wall and wherein the spring is disposed within the hole. 
     
     
       9. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the locking bar at the first end is attached at a pivot joint to the coupler body. 
     
     
       10. The coupler of  claim 1  wherein the coupler body includes a frustoconical section adjacent the opening into the coupler body. 
     
     
       11. A method of assembling a trailer coupler for installation at a forward end of a trailer, the coupler configured to attach to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the hitch defining a ball and a neck below the ball, the method comprising the steps of:
 i. forming a coupler body to have a downwardly-facing opening configured to allow the ball to pass therethrough, a socket above the opening for receiving the ball, an internal channel extending horizontally between a first end and a second end, the internal channel being positioned above the opening and below the socket, the channel including a laterally-facing aperture adjacent the second end, the coupler body further including a side wall enclosing a side of the channel and a flange adjacent the laterally-opening aperture; 
 ii. providing a clamping bar defining a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes a bracket with an open channel therein; 
 iii. inserting the first end of the clamping bar through the laterally-facing aperture, and moving the first end of the clamping bar to the first end of the coupler body channel while fitting the bracket over the flange at the open channel of the clamping bar. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the clamping bar includes a curved middle portion, and the step of moving the clamping bar includes moving the curved middle portion to adjacent the opening of the coupler body. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the flange of the coupler body includes a curvature that, in the step of moving the clamping bar, facilitates fitting the bracket over the flange. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of attaching the clamping bar to the coupler body at a pivot joint. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming the coupler body includes casting the coupler body. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming the coupler body includes providing a hole through the side wall and further including a step of installing a spring within the hole. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of installing the spring includes closing the hole by welding. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming the coupler body includes forming another laterally-facing aperture adjacent the first end of the channel in the coupler body.